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Fic: Don't Touch the Shimmery Liquid 4/12
Title: Don't Touch the Shimmery Liquid 4/12
Author: Erin (erinm_4600)
Characters, Pairing: DG, Cain, Glitch, Jeb, Ahamo and the Queen (mention of Az)
Rating: PG
Summary: If you don't know what something is, keep your hands OUT OF IT!
Warning: post-series *inspired by (but not so much an answer to) impish_dragon's bunny.
Disclaimer: The original characters belong to L. Frank Baum and their respective actors. The current characters belong to Sci-Fi, the movie folks and their respective actors.
Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six | Part Seven | Part Eight | Part Nine | Part Ten | Part Eleven | Part Twelve
More Tales: the first tale | the second tale | the third tale | the fourth tale | the fifth tale
DG and Cain had split up about half an hour later, each in search of a different person: DG, her mother; and Cain, his son. DG had pointed out that, while there was obviously no getting out of this 'announcement,' why rush things? Especially if they were expected to play the part.
Honestly? Who would believe that the two of them had fallen madly in love with each other over the span a few days? She was already living a bad movie plot, as it was. Granted, it had been almost two months since their paths originally crossed...
Cain ordered DG to take the jar with her - which DG protested heavily - insisting that it needed to be put in a safe place. Apparently, remaining in its spot on her mother's desk wasn't safe enough. She made sure the lid was on tightly before leaving the library, offending pottery cradled against her elbow.
~*~
DG found her mother rather quickly. She and Gli-Ambro- Glitch were standing with Ahamo in a sitting room down the hall. Glitch noticed her first, which caused Ahamo to look up and the Queen to turn.
"We talked it over," DG began with a sigh. "And if we have to do this, we're gonna need some rehearsal time." Ahamo gave her a sincere smile and the Queen simply sighed. "We just-" DG began defensively, stepping toward Glitch and her parents with her free hand raised. "Look, I don't know how it's supposed to work here, but, in Kansas, you don't just up and get married without so much as a first date." Her head cocked slightly and she added, to no one in particular: "Well, unless you're Britney Spears. 'Course, she got out of hers..." DG realized she'd gone off on a tangent and forced a smile, seeing the look on her mother's face.
"We just- I... This is just gonna take a slight bit more adjustment than finding out that your sister is possessed by an evil witch." She nodded with a slight sigh and waited for her mother's response. The Queen looked from DG to Ahamo, who nodded, then returned her gaze to DG.
"Very well. We will hold off on the announcement-" DG let out the breath she was holding, letting her shoulders sag with relief. "For now," the Queen continued, in an 'I'll-give-you-an-extra-24-hours-to-turn-the-paper-in-but-this-is-the-only-time'-tone. DG nodded, grateful to get any break.
Feeling the weight of the container in her arm, DG shifted slightly and motioned to the thing. "Cain says this needs to be kept somewhere safe. Any suggestions? A wall safe? A lockbox? Bottom of a well..." she trailed off, under her breath. Glitch nodded to the Queen and Ahamo, excusing himself, and moved over to DG.
"I'll help you find a place," he said with a smile. DG nodded and allowed Glitch to lead her out of the room. As they walked down the hallway, DG looked at her dear friend.
"Am I still glowing?" Glitch grinned and looked sideways at her.
"You've stopped." DG sighed in relief. "Actually," Glitch looked away and continued. "It suited you." DG stopped, disbelief written all over her face. Glitch stopped as well, faced her and shrugged with a smile. Nodding in the direction they were headed, both turned and continued down the hallway.
~*~
Cain found Jeb standing outside the elder man's quarters. Cain forced a grin and nodded as Jeb, ever the soldier, stood straight at his father's presence. Jeb relaxed as Cain neared and, as Cain's hand went to the doorknob, Jeb smirked.
"I hear 'Congratulations' are in order." Cain's eyes closed and his jaw clenched before his chin dropped to his chest. With a heavy sigh, Cain looked sideways at his son, who was not even trying to hold back the smile on his face. Throwing his hands up, Jeb shook his head. "I wouldn't say that Azkadellia has a big mouth... but, Azkadellia-"
"Has a big mouth," Cain said with a nod and forced smile. Jeb tried to hold back the chuckle, and it was all Cain could do to not laugh as well. He sighed again and pushed open the door.
Cain tossed his fedora onto the dresser and hung his duster on the nearby coat rack, as Jeb leaned against the wall. Cain next moved over to the small writing desk near the window and pulled out the chair. Falling into it with a deep breath, Cain looked at the wall for a moment before glancing at his son. He next focused on a spot in the marble mantle over the fireplace and clenched his jaw again.
Jeb looked at the floor and shrugged. "I have to say, that's the most... original way to keep track of'-" He smiled, trying not to laugh, and seeing the piercing glare coming from his father, Jeb quickly added: "Sorry." He moved over and leaned against the edge of the bed.
"I think you've set the record," Jeb said a few moments later. Cain gave him a 'what-are-you-talking-about' look. "Well," Jeb said, adjusting himself so that he was now sitting on the end of the bed, legs swinging slightly. "In the last two months, you've gotten out on an iron suit; invaded Milltown; snuck into Central City; stolen a truck; aided, and abetted, breaking and entering of a royal residence. Not to mention," Jeb added, pointing at his father. "Destruction of property at said residence; been shot; drowned; helped prisoners escape; seen the O.Z. in all its glory; been arrested; been saved." Jeb added a raised eyebrow and smiled. "Exacted revenge; stolen a horse; stormed the castle; saved the day..."
Jeb took a deep breath. "And, now, you've managed to marry yourself a princess."
"I brought the horse back," Cain said stoically. Jeb could only smile. A moment later, he looked down, trying to hide a laugh. "What?" Cain demanded. Jeb shook his head.
"Just trying to imagine you... glowing." He laughed again and jerked back as Cain swatted at him with a stack of papers that had been sitting on the table.
~*~
DG stopped Glitch as they passed one of the libraries and headed in, in search of any information on the jar 'o matrimony. Glitch tried to tell her that she wouldn't find anything - at least not in this library - but she refused to hear it.
"How did this thing even get- Were there a bunch of guys sittin' around, back in the day, and one of 'em said: 'Hey y'all, watch this!'? Who thinks this thing," she waved to the dish. "Is a good idea? Seriously?"
"Really, DG, you can just throw this thing in a drawer," Glitch said as they moved back into the hallway, motioning to her offending pottery. DG gave him a look, which she hoped translated into that of a monkey being asked to solve pre-calculus. "As far as anyone is concerned, it's just a... bowl." Seeing the look on her face not changing, Glitch reached over and snatched the bowl from her grasp. Before she could get it back, he'd pulled the lid off and held it up.
DG's eyes grew wide as she registered that the thing was empty. Grabbing the dish from Glitch, DG held it up to her face and looked for any sign of the silvery goop that had been in there hours before. Looking up to Glitch, DG opened her mouth, closed it again and frowned, before taking another look into the now-empty space.
She inadvertently pulled the dish down to her side as a pair of palace staff walked by, giving Glitch and herself a nod. As they walked by, DG looked at the dish again. "But... Where? There was-" Glitch took the dish from her hands and replaced the lid. "What is this? A 'One time only' deal?" She leaned forward and dropped her voice, although they were the only two in the hallway.
"It's the magic, Deej," he said with a shrug. The Glitch part of him wanted to tell her what was going on. But the Ambrose part knew this was something she needed to understand for herself.
'She wasn't raised on this side. She doesn't understand-'
'Doesn't matter. You can't interfere.'
'But-'
'No.'
DG frowned and pulled the lid off. Maybe Glitch had done some David Copperfield-thing to it. Maybe she was on Candid Camera. Looking into the bowl again, DG saw that the thing was empty. There wasn't even a speck of moisture; nothing to hint that there had ever been anything inside.
She looked back up to Glitch. He took her lid-holding hand in one of his, and placed his other hand over- under- her other - the one holding the jar. He helped her replace the lid and nodded. A moment later, he lifted her hand, and the lid. 'Still empty,' DG noted.
"I don't-" she began, shaking her head. Glitch gave her an apologetic grin and let out a breath.
"You will." He nodded again and let go of both her hands. As he moved away, DG glanced down at the dish and flinched. Looking up after Glitch, she yelled:
"Did you just give me a 'That's for me to know and you to find out'?" Glitch turned and smiled at her. DG gasped in horror and he gave her a shrug and turned again, continuing down the hall.
DG moved over to the nearest window seat and dropped down with a thump. Frowning, she pulled the lid off the jar again and was - surprisingly - disappointed to see it still empty. She replaced the lid and looked out the window behind her. A minute later, DG took a deep breath and closed her eyes before pulling the lid off one more time.
Opening one eye, she looked down to find the silvery-purple liquid swirling inside the jar. Her other eye popped open and she glared down into the dish. "There you are," she heard.
Looking up, DG saw Cain moving toward her from the other end of the hallway.
Author: Erin (erinm_4600)
Characters, Pairing: DG, Cain, Glitch, Jeb, Ahamo and the Queen (mention of Az)
Rating: PG
Summary: If you don't know what something is, keep your hands OUT OF IT!
Warning: post-series *inspired by (but not so much an answer to) impish_dragon's bunny.
Disclaimer: The original characters belong to L. Frank Baum and their respective actors. The current characters belong to Sci-Fi, the movie folks and their respective actors.
Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six | Part Seven | Part Eight | Part Nine | Part Ten | Part Eleven | Part Twelve
More Tales: the first tale | the second tale | the third tale | the fourth tale | the fifth tale
DG and Cain had split up about half an hour later, each in search of a different person: DG, her mother; and Cain, his son. DG had pointed out that, while there was obviously no getting out of this 'announcement,' why rush things? Especially if they were expected to play the part.
Honestly? Who would believe that the two of them had fallen madly in love with each other over the span a few days? She was already living a bad movie plot, as it was. Granted, it had been almost two months since their paths originally crossed...
Cain ordered DG to take the jar with her - which DG protested heavily - insisting that it needed to be put in a safe place. Apparently, remaining in its spot on her mother's desk wasn't safe enough. She made sure the lid was on tightly before leaving the library, offending pottery cradled against her elbow.
~*~
DG found her mother rather quickly. She and Gli-Ambro- Glitch were standing with Ahamo in a sitting room down the hall. Glitch noticed her first, which caused Ahamo to look up and the Queen to turn.
"We talked it over," DG began with a sigh. "And if we have to do this, we're gonna need some rehearsal time." Ahamo gave her a sincere smile and the Queen simply sighed. "We just-" DG began defensively, stepping toward Glitch and her parents with her free hand raised. "Look, I don't know how it's supposed to work here, but, in Kansas, you don't just up and get married without so much as a first date." Her head cocked slightly and she added, to no one in particular: "Well, unless you're Britney Spears. 'Course, she got out of hers..." DG realized she'd gone off on a tangent and forced a smile, seeing the look on her mother's face.
"We just- I... This is just gonna take a slight bit more adjustment than finding out that your sister is possessed by an evil witch." She nodded with a slight sigh and waited for her mother's response. The Queen looked from DG to Ahamo, who nodded, then returned her gaze to DG.
"Very well. We will hold off on the announcement-" DG let out the breath she was holding, letting her shoulders sag with relief. "For now," the Queen continued, in an 'I'll-give-you-an-extra-24-hours-to-turn-the-paper-in-but-this-is-the-only-time'-tone. DG nodded, grateful to get any break.
Feeling the weight of the container in her arm, DG shifted slightly and motioned to the thing. "Cain says this needs to be kept somewhere safe. Any suggestions? A wall safe? A lockbox? Bottom of a well..." she trailed off, under her breath. Glitch nodded to the Queen and Ahamo, excusing himself, and moved over to DG.
"I'll help you find a place," he said with a smile. DG nodded and allowed Glitch to lead her out of the room. As they walked down the hallway, DG looked at her dear friend.
"Am I still glowing?" Glitch grinned and looked sideways at her.
"You've stopped." DG sighed in relief. "Actually," Glitch looked away and continued. "It suited you." DG stopped, disbelief written all over her face. Glitch stopped as well, faced her and shrugged with a smile. Nodding in the direction they were headed, both turned and continued down the hallway.
~*~
Cain found Jeb standing outside the elder man's quarters. Cain forced a grin and nodded as Jeb, ever the soldier, stood straight at his father's presence. Jeb relaxed as Cain neared and, as Cain's hand went to the doorknob, Jeb smirked.
"I hear 'Congratulations' are in order." Cain's eyes closed and his jaw clenched before his chin dropped to his chest. With a heavy sigh, Cain looked sideways at his son, who was not even trying to hold back the smile on his face. Throwing his hands up, Jeb shook his head. "I wouldn't say that Azkadellia has a big mouth... but, Azkadellia-"
"Has a big mouth," Cain said with a nod and forced smile. Jeb tried to hold back the chuckle, and it was all Cain could do to not laugh as well. He sighed again and pushed open the door.
Cain tossed his fedora onto the dresser and hung his duster on the nearby coat rack, as Jeb leaned against the wall. Cain next moved over to the small writing desk near the window and pulled out the chair. Falling into it with a deep breath, Cain looked at the wall for a moment before glancing at his son. He next focused on a spot in the marble mantle over the fireplace and clenched his jaw again.
Jeb looked at the floor and shrugged. "I have to say, that's the most... original way to keep track of'-" He smiled, trying not to laugh, and seeing the piercing glare coming from his father, Jeb quickly added: "Sorry." He moved over and leaned against the edge of the bed.
"I think you've set the record," Jeb said a few moments later. Cain gave him a 'what-are-you-talking-about' look. "Well," Jeb said, adjusting himself so that he was now sitting on the end of the bed, legs swinging slightly. "In the last two months, you've gotten out on an iron suit; invaded Milltown; snuck into Central City; stolen a truck; aided, and abetted, breaking and entering of a royal residence. Not to mention," Jeb added, pointing at his father. "Destruction of property at said residence; been shot; drowned; helped prisoners escape; seen the O.Z. in all its glory; been arrested; been saved." Jeb added a raised eyebrow and smiled. "Exacted revenge; stolen a horse; stormed the castle; saved the day..."
Jeb took a deep breath. "And, now, you've managed to marry yourself a princess."
"I brought the horse back," Cain said stoically. Jeb could only smile. A moment later, he looked down, trying to hide a laugh. "What?" Cain demanded. Jeb shook his head.
"Just trying to imagine you... glowing." He laughed again and jerked back as Cain swatted at him with a stack of papers that had been sitting on the table.
~*~
DG stopped Glitch as they passed one of the libraries and headed in, in search of any information on the jar 'o matrimony. Glitch tried to tell her that she wouldn't find anything - at least not in this library - but she refused to hear it.
"How did this thing even get- Were there a bunch of guys sittin' around, back in the day, and one of 'em said: 'Hey y'all, watch this!'? Who thinks this thing," she waved to the dish. "Is a good idea? Seriously?"
"Really, DG, you can just throw this thing in a drawer," Glitch said as they moved back into the hallway, motioning to her offending pottery. DG gave him a look, which she hoped translated into that of a monkey being asked to solve pre-calculus. "As far as anyone is concerned, it's just a... bowl." Seeing the look on her face not changing, Glitch reached over and snatched the bowl from her grasp. Before she could get it back, he'd pulled the lid off and held it up.
DG's eyes grew wide as she registered that the thing was empty. Grabbing the dish from Glitch, DG held it up to her face and looked for any sign of the silvery goop that had been in there hours before. Looking up to Glitch, DG opened her mouth, closed it again and frowned, before taking another look into the now-empty space.
She inadvertently pulled the dish down to her side as a pair of palace staff walked by, giving Glitch and herself a nod. As they walked by, DG looked at the dish again. "But... Where? There was-" Glitch took the dish from her hands and replaced the lid. "What is this? A 'One time only' deal?" She leaned forward and dropped her voice, although they were the only two in the hallway.
"It's the magic, Deej," he said with a shrug. The Glitch part of him wanted to tell her what was going on. But the Ambrose part knew this was something she needed to understand for herself.
'She wasn't raised on this side. She doesn't understand-'
'Doesn't matter. You can't interfere.'
'But-'
'No.'
DG frowned and pulled the lid off. Maybe Glitch had done some David Copperfield-thing to it. Maybe she was on Candid Camera. Looking into the bowl again, DG saw that the thing was empty. There wasn't even a speck of moisture; nothing to hint that there had ever been anything inside.
She looked back up to Glitch. He took her lid-holding hand in one of his, and placed his other hand over- under- her other - the one holding the jar. He helped her replace the lid and nodded. A moment later, he lifted her hand, and the lid. 'Still empty,' DG noted.
"I don't-" she began, shaking her head. Glitch gave her an apologetic grin and let out a breath.
"You will." He nodded again and let go of both her hands. As he moved away, DG glanced down at the dish and flinched. Looking up after Glitch, she yelled:
"Did you just give me a 'That's for me to know and you to find out'?" Glitch turned and smiled at her. DG gasped in horror and he gave her a shrug and turned again, continuing down the hall.
DG moved over to the nearest window seat and dropped down with a thump. Frowning, she pulled the lid off the jar again and was - surprisingly - disappointed to see it still empty. She replaced the lid and looked out the window behind her. A minute later, DG took a deep breath and closed her eyes before pulling the lid off one more time.
Opening one eye, she looked down to find the silvery-purple liquid swirling inside the jar. Her other eye popped open and she glared down into the dish. "There you are," she heard.
Looking up, DG saw Cain moving toward her from the other end of the hallway.